Dr. Shekhar D. Shinde, PhD

Currently, I am working as postdoc in University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. I am working on synthesis of polystyrene co-polymers by possessing ion sensing moieties by using RAFT polymerization technique. The ion sensitive polystyrene co-polymers have been used to prepare aqueous dispersion of PEDOT inks. These inks are being tested on OECT device for further ion sensing studies. Simultaneously, I am synthesizing ion sensitive 3, 4-Ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomers. These ion sensitive EDOT monomers could be electropolymerized to obtain corresponding PEDOT conjugated polymer which could be used for ion sensing studies in future through OECT device.

Before joining University of Bordeaux, I worked as Post Doctorate fellow at Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA. My topic of research was synthesis of dynamic π-conjugated ionic network (π-PIN) and study of their mechanical, thermal and optical properties. Reversible and thixotropic π-PIN gels were generated by synergistically combining the intriguing properties of π-conjugated polymers with the dynamic properties of ionically crosslinked networks. The π-PIN gels were used for the rheological studies. To go on next level, I studied the effect of crosslinker on stretchability and flexibility of thin films casted for π-PIN gels. Thin films of π-PIN gels were studied for their flexibility and stretchability tests. Tensile modulus was obtained by using Film on Elastomer (FOE) method and ductility was studied by obtaining crack onset point by using Instron pull tester.

I completed my doctoral studies at National Chemical Laboratory, Pune, India. My doctoral research was focused on Improving Charge Carrier Mobility in Donor-Acceptor systems based on Block Copolymers and Small molecules through Self Assembly. My research work covers multiple areas of chemistry including synthetic organic chemistry, polymer synthesis and self assembly as a tool to build higher ordered polymer architectures which can find potential applications in the opto-electronic devices. I have developed strong synthetic skills with the help of which I have synthesized a variety of multi-step monomers and series of donor polymers using Wittig, GRIM, Suzuki polymerization, ATRP and redox polymerization by using emulsion/interfacial/dispersion methods. I have gained expertise in the synthesis of Polythiophene functional block copolymers by using Grignard metathesis. Acceptor perylene bisimide small molecules were suitably functionalized to form non-covalent interactions with p-type homo polymers, random and block copolymers bearing complementary hydrogen bond units on pendent chain. The complementary hydrogen bonding interaction between donor and acceptor resulted in the formation of nanostructure morphology.

Prior to my PhD studies, I worked as project assistant with at Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India. During this tenure, I gained expertise in the synthesis of Polyaniline nanomaterials by using emulsion, interfacial and dispersion polymerization methods with the help of noncommercial specially designed sulfonic acid surfactants-cum-dopant.